Patents by Inventor Kenji Konno

Kenji Konno has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080239252
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image projector capable of projecting a high-quality image while realizing small size. In the image projector, a light flux is deflected two-dimensionally by turning a reflector for reflecting a light flux emitted from a light source around a second axis almost orthogonal to a first axis as a center by resonant drive while turning the reflector around the first axis as a center by non-resonant drive. Shape of one or more optical surfaces of a projection optical system for projecting an image onto a projection plane by guiding light onto the projection plane includes a shape for performing a correction for maintaining scanning speed of the light flux along one scan direction on the projection plane almost constant and a shape for performing a correction for suppressing a distortion in an image along the other scan direction almost orthogonal to the one scan direction on the projection plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Konno, Kenji Mizumoto
  • Publication number: 20080225291
    Abstract: A concave diffraction grating device, a reflective dispersion device, and a spectral device of the invention include a diffraction grating plane having an aspherical configuration, wherein the diffraction grating plane is symmetrical in a predetermined direction, and asymmetrical in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in such a manner that the curvature of one end portion of the diffraction grating plane in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction is gradually decreased, and the curvature of the other end portion thereof is gradually increased. The concave diffraction grating device, the reflective dispersion device, and the spectral device with the above arrangement have desirable slit image forming performance with respect to all the wavelengths in a visible region, and are suitable for mass-production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji KONNO, Kenji IMURA, Masayuki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20080158525
    Abstract: A laser projection apparatus PJ includes: laser devices; incident optical systems, each of which is supplied with light beam from the laser device; a scanning device for two-dimensionally scanning the light beam; and a projection optical system for projecting the light beam from the scanning device onto a screen; wherein the scanning device includes a resonant drive mirror for performing deflection in a main scanning direction, and at least one light source image is formed in an optical path ranging from the scanning device to the screen SC, and the projection optical system includes two reflecting mirrors which has such a power that, with respect to the main scanning direction, a positive power thereof becomes increasingly greater toward peripheries of the main scanning direction, and each of the incident optical systems has a power in the main scanning direction and a power in the sub scanning direction, one power being different from another power, thereby achieving a laser projection apparatus using a pro
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Ichiro Fujiyo, Kenji Konno
  • Publication number: 20080158524
    Abstract: A laser projection apparatus includes: laser devices; incident optical systems, each of which is supplied with light beam from the laser device; a scanning device for two-dimensionally scanning the light beam; and a projection optical system for projecting the light beam from the scanning device onto a screen; wherein the scanning device includes a resonant drive mirror for performing deflection in a main scanning direction, and the projection optical system includes at least two nonaxisymmetric-shaped reflecting mirrors and a light source image is present between the first mirror, which is most closest to the scanning device, and the second mirror, thereby achieving a laser projection apparatus using a projection optical system which is easy to downsize, has velocity uniformity and has successful projection characteristics and brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji Konno, Ichiro Fujiyo
  • Publication number: 20080143979
    Abstract: A laser projection device includes: an incidence optical system condensing laser light, a scanning device deflect the laser light in a first scanning direction and a second scanning direction with a mirror, and a projection optical system guiding the deflected light to a surface to be scanned. The scanning device performs the deflection in the first scanning direction by resonant driving and performs the deflection in the second scanning direction by non-resonant driving. The incidence optical system has different optical powers in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction, and makes light incident on the scanning device in a convergent state in the first scanning direction and in a substantially parallel light state in the second scanning direction. The projection optical system has a negative optical power in the first scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Kenji KONNO
  • Patent number: 7382546
    Abstract: A reflecting prism (PR1) and a reflecting prism (PR2) each adapted to bend an incident ray at a predetermined angle for reflection are arranged in such a manner that an incident surface of the reflecting prism disposed on a side of a subject on an optical path and the exit surface of the other reflecting prism are aligned substantially parallel to each other. The incident surface or the exit surface of at least one of the reflecting prisms has an optical power. At least one lens group including one or more lens element is arranged between the two reflecting prisms in such a manner that the optical axis of the lens group is coincident with the axis of the optical path between the two reflecting prisms. At least one lens group is moved in the direction of the optical axis thereof. Thus, provided are a thin and superfine zoom optical system, an imaging lens device incorporated with the zoom optical system, and a digital apparatus loaded with the imaging lens device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Konno
  • Patent number: 7364010
    Abstract: A motorcycle, having both left and right mufflers, has an exhaust structure which enables an increase in the allowable margin through which the rear wheel is permitted to rise. A main exhaust pipe extends from an engine to one side of a shock absorber disposed on the rear side of the engine. The main exhaust pipe is branched in the vicinity of the shock absorber into a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe. The first branch pipe is connected to a first muffler disposed on the same side as the main exhaust pipe, and the second branch pipe is connected to a second muffler after passing between the shock absorber and a rear wheel to the opposed side of the vehicle body. The second branch pipe does not interfere with the rising motion of the rear wheel, and a sufficient allowable margin is secured for the rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Konno
  • Patent number: 7359307
    Abstract: A catadioptric objective system used for storage and/or reproduction of information by use of an optical near field. The catadioptric objective system is composed of a catadioptric objective lens and a light transmitting plate. The lens has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has a positive optical power and transmits incident rays. The second surface has a positive optical power and reflects incident rays, and a plane portion is formed in the center of the second surface. The light transmitting plate has a third surface and a fourth surface which are substantially parallel to each other, and the third surface is bonded to the second surface. Incident rays pass through the first surface and are reflected by the second surface. Thereafter, the rays enter into the first surface again and are reflected by the first surface. Then, the rays pass through the plane portion of the second surface, and the rays are converged in vicinity of the fourth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Konno
  • Publication number: 20080054585
    Abstract: To provide a fender structure for a motorcycle for preventing muddy water or the like running off a rear fender from being splashed on a muffler. A fender structure for a motorcycle is provided with an engine and wheels suspended therefrom. A fender covers the upper portion of the wheel and extends downwardly on the right and left sides. A muffler is positioned below at least one of the right and left edge portions of the fender. The fender structure includes a folded-back portion extending towards the inner side of the muffler from the corresponding edge portion of the fender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji Konno, Hiroaki Oshigamo
  • Publication number: 20080049563
    Abstract: An optical element for being carried on a slider moving over a recording medium, the optical element being made of a fluid material that transmits light guided from a light source, the optical element which includes a groove an first end which is open and an second end is closed, and a deflection surface for deflecting a light coming from the aforementioned second end of the groove, wherein the thickness of the aforementioned fluid material forming the bottom of the groove is greater on the second end than on the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji Konno, Koujirou Sekine
  • Patent number: 7333276
    Abstract: An optical element that condenses light emitted from a light source has: an entrance surface where the light enters; an exit surface from which the light entering inside via the entrance surface; and a reflection surface that directs, to the exit surface by total reflection, part of the light entering the inside via the entrance surface. The reflection surface has an axis of symmetry of sixfold or higher-order-fold rotation. The optical element fulfills conditional formula: 0.3<a/b<1.4, where a denotes the maximum length of the exit surface in the direction perpendicular to the axis of symmetry; and b denotes a surface gap on the axis of symmetry between the entrance surface and the exit surface. As a result, an optical element can be provided which achieves highly efficient condensation at low costs and with simple configuration and also which achieves compactification by reducing the diameter of the optical element for the size of the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiko Ikuno, Kenji Konno
  • Publication number: 20080002529
    Abstract: An optical head having: a graded index lens which receives incident light radiated from a linear optical guide at one end surface of the graded index lens and transmits the incident light from the other end surface of the graded index lens, the graded index lens is adapted to form a light spot at a position that is away from the other end surface from which the incident light is transmitted; a light path deflection section which deflects light transmitted from the graded index lens, the light path deflection section is arranged between the other end surface from which the incident light is transmitted and the position where the light spot is formed; and a slider which floats on a recording medium while moving relative to the recording medium, wherein at least the graded index lens and the light path deflection section are installed on the slider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Koujirou Sekine, Hiroaki Ueda, Manami Kuiseko, Naoki Nishida, Kenji Konno, Masahiro Okitsu, Hiroshi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20070252504
    Abstract: In a light emitting module arranging therein a plurality of LEDs, each LED includes: an LED chip; and an anode connected to the LED chip. The anode includes: a support surface supporting the LED chip; and an extending part extending with respect to the support surface, and the extending parts in the plurality of LEDs separate from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Kenji Konno, Yasumasa Sawai
  • Publication number: 20070230288
    Abstract: A recorder has a recording head which uses light for information recording to a recording medium. The recording head has a slider and an optical waveguide. The slider moves relative to the recording medium while floating thereon. The optical waveguide is provided in the slider and has a refractive index difference of 20% or more between a core and a cladding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Naoki Nishida, Hiroaki Ueda, Manami Kuiseko, Koujirou Sekine, Kenji Konno, Masahiro Okitsu, Hiroshi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20070230323
    Abstract: A recorder has a recording medium for information recording, a light source, an optical system, a slider, and an optical waveguide. To the optical system, light from the light source enters, and the slider moves relative to the recording medium while not in contact therewith. The optical waveguide is arranged at position facing the recording medium in the slider so that light entering from the optical system is irradiated on the recording medium. Where the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide on the light output side is d and the mode field diameter thereof on the light input side is D, the mode field diameter is converted by smoothly changing the diameter of the optical waveguide to satisfy D>d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Naoki Nishida, Hiroaki Ueda, Manami Kuiseko, Koujirou Sekine, Kenji Konno, Masahiro Okitsu, Hiroshi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20070221169
    Abstract: A mounting structure on motorcycle for protecting a capacitor from vibration and heat. In an engine having an upright cylinder a throttle body is connected to an intake path of the cylinder via an insulator, and the throttle body is connected to an air cleaner via a connecting tube. The throttle body is thereby elastically supported relative to the engine and a vehicle body frame via the insulator and the connecting tube. A capacitor is disposed at a position downward of the throttle body. The capacitor is supported integrally with the throttle body using a lower portion of a throttle body cover that covers both left and right sides of the throttle body. A vibration isolating support structure is thus achieved for the capacitor by using the throttle body that is elastically supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: Kenji Konno
  • Publication number: 20070201235
    Abstract: A light-emitting module has: a single reflector having a plurality of concave reflection surfaces; and light emitters in a same number as a number of the concave reflection surfaces. Each of the concave reflection surface has an outer shape partially notched at a boundary thereof with the adjacent concave reflection surface. Each of the light emitters emits light toward the concave reflection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Yasumasa Sawai, Kenji Konno
  • Patent number: 7227706
    Abstract: An image-taking lens apparatus has an image sensor for converting an optical image of a subject into an electrical signal and an image-taking lens system for forming the optical image on the image sensor. The image-taking lens system includes a prism for bending the optical path, and the refractive index of the prism fulfills a prescribed conditional formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Genta Yagyu, Shinji Yamaguchi, Kenji Konno, Kaori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20070109919
    Abstract: A light-condensing head has a light source unit, a light-condensing element that condenses the light emitted from the light source unit, and an electrically conductive scatterer that, when irradiated with light, produces localized plasmon at the light condensation position of the light from the light-condensing element. The light emitted from the light source unit contains, at least in part thereof, polarized waves that constitute a rotation-symmetric radiating electric field vector distribution in which the electric field vectors have equal magnitudes at equal distances from the center of rotation symmetry. The electrically conductive scatterer has, in the light-receiving portion thereof that receives the light from the light-condensing element, rotation symmetry of order three or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yokoyama, Kenji Konno
  • Publication number: 20070041210
    Abstract: An optical element that condenses light emitted from a light source has: an entrance surface where the light enters; an exit surface from which the light entering inside via the entrance surface; and a reflection surface that directs, to the exit surface by total reflection, part of the light entering the inside via the entrance surface. The reflection surface has an axis of symmetry of sixfold or higher-order-fold rotation. The optical element fulfills conditional formula: 0.3<a/b<1.4, where a denotes the maximum length of the exit surface in the direction perpendicular to the axis of symmetry; and b denotes a surface gap on the axis of symmetry between the entrance surface and the exit surface. As a result, an optical element can be provided which achieves highly efficient condensation at low costs and with simple configuration and also which achieves compactification by reducing the diameter of the optical element for the size of the light emitting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Keiko Ikuno, Kenji Konno